AP: Advanced Placement or Advanced Procrastination?

In addition to the many other stresses that accompany the winding down of the school year in spring, many juniors and seniors choose to take various Advanced Placement (AP) exams that occur in the first two weeks of May.

AP means just that — advanced placement. And these classes are rigorous, fast-paced and demanding.

But if the tests and classes are passed, students may receive college credits, and be exempt from taking certain classes in college, saving them time and money and potentially allowing for faster college graduation. 

They also provide a benefit when applying to college, as AP tests look extremely good on college applications.

“Going to UC Berkeley was a perfect choice in regard to AP credit,” explained senior Kuhuk Goyal. “I get credits for every test I took, and those AP tests helped me to get into college.” 

Goyal has taken eight AP tests so far and has passed every single one of them with high scores.

These tests costs about $100 per test each year, but students said the expense is well worth it if they pass. Each exam is scored on a scale from one to five, with three set as the minimum passing grade.

offers a wide variety of AP classes, science, English, math, foreign languages such as Spanish, history and government, and even psychology.

The exams test students on college-level mastery of the subject, making them very difficult for some students to pass, and many procrastinate on starting to study for them despite looming test dates.

“As the test gets closer, I try to study a little bit every day over time, but I end up waiting until the last minute,” said senior Jason Lopata, who is taking the AP U. S. Government and Politics exam.

Steve Nava has had similar experiences.

“I definitely did do my fair share of cramming in the last two weeks before my first AP tests. However I did do a good job of somewhat pacing out my work and study loads throughout the year,” Nava said.

Nava, a junior, is currently in his second year of taking AP tests. He took the AP Biology exam earlier this year. 

This is rare, as most AP classes are only offered to juniors and seniors. Nava took AP Calculus AB and AP U.S. History exams and is taking the AP English Language test next week.

“U.S. History was the hardest so far. I find that it is very difficult to memorize nearly 300 years’ worth of events, historical figures, significant dates, and major works of art and literature,” Nava said.

Nava said he plans to take on a different approach next year by studying and reviewing instructional material as he learns it.

“By reviewing material that I have already learned, I hope to easily retain that information throughout the course of the school year. That way, by the time AP testing time comes around, there hopefully won't be too much need for me to cram,” he said.

AP exams are timed tests. Most having a section of multiple choice and a portion of essay writing. The tests are usually two to four hours long.

Students who take the tests said they generally have strengths and weaknesses in different areas of test-taking and that being aware of these makes it easier to find ways to compensate for their weaknesses.

“I think that the time restraint placed on a test taker during the multiple choice section of any AP test is the most difficult obstacle to overcome,” Nava said.

For Lopata, essays are the biggest challenge.

“On the multiple choice section, you can eliminate wrong answers, and take guesses with the possibility of getting them right, but if they give you an essay prompt on something you have no idea about, there’s no way around it, and you are pretty much out of luck,” Lopata said.

With the difficulty of AP tests and classes in mind, some students are discouraged from taking the courses and the exams. But for most students the benefits make the stress and  late nights of studying well worth it.

“The biggest motivating factor for me taking AP tests: saving money and time in college,” Nava said.

Lopata said, “For me personally, I see taking this AP test as a challenge, and I want to see how well I can do."